Rahul had to don the keeping gloves after Rishabh Pant received a blow on the helmet while batting and had to seek treatment during the innings break in the ongoing first ODI against Australia on Tuesday.
This is the first time Rahul is wicketkeeping for India in ODIs even though he does the job regularly for his IPL team Kings XI Punjab. Pant got hit on the helmet by a steep Pat Cummins bouncer, which also led to his dismissal for 28 in the 44th over of India's innings.
Pant was looking to pull the third delivery of the over from Cummins but got beaten for pace. The ball hit the top-edge of his bat and then hit his helmet. The blow was so fierce that the ball lobbed up to Ashton Turner, who took an easy catch at point.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) later confirmed that Pant suffered a concussion due to the blow and has been put under observation. Manish Pandey took the field as a substitute for Pant.
"Rishabh Pant has got a concussion after being hit on his helmet while batting. KL Rahul is keeping wickets in his absence. Pant is under observation at the moment," the BCCI posted on Twitter.